Honor Your Father And Mother Part 1

For looking to Jesus ago, God gave the 10 Commandments as a blueprint for living. Failure to follow commandment number six is a big reason for the dismal state of many families today. The key to having Kathy and stable families from the Moody Church in Chicago this is wanting to win with Dr. Irwin will serve teaching helps us make it across the finish line, loser commandment to honor your father and your mother is associated with long life. Exodus chapter 20 yesterday, but I think that that promise applies to the nation Israel. It doesn't mean that every single Israelite who honors his or her father and mother are going to live long, but it shows that God is going to bless a nation that honors the family and when we think of honoring our father and mother. The first thing that pops into people's minds is yeah but what about the exceptions. What about when our parents tell us to do things that are on biblical or wrong, but before we get to the exceptions we need to know what God has to say. So let's go to the pulpit of Moody church now and let's listen in as once again we remember that these are the words of God. All of us have it in our land. Today there is a scourge seems to be affecting homes everywhere and that is of course the breakup of the home and the tearing apart of what God has put together and the commandment to honor your father and your mother is one that is centrally located within the heart of God's social program for the world because he's very concerned that the family be strong at this emphasis and when the text says honor your father and your mother. It's God's way of affirming once again it needs affirmation the greatest responsibility that there rests with parents as well as children. Before I begin to discuss that commandment because obviously on the face of it, it seems as if it applies to children I want to say first of all, the word to parents. Why is it that God says honor your father and your mother, why does he say that to children while the answer is because God invests in parents and awesome responsibility.

Did you know that so far as God is concerned. The parents really represent him to their children. You are God's representatives to your children, parents, you say well I don't like that I want to back out. You can, God has appointed you to be his representative to children.

The children that you have borne and and there's no way that you can back out now. That's why parents have such a tremendous amount of power in the lives of their children. Awesome power.

The father particularly has power. In fact, there are those children whose father has been dead who still exercises authority over them from his gray. They can be 30 years old. They can be 50 years old and they are still spending a great deal of their time trying to overcome either the good influence, in which case, of course, they would not have to overcome it but to respond to it or the evil influence of a father who perhaps rejected them beat them, hated them and said awful things about them. And so, let's remember that God invests of that kind of authority in parents and I'm reminded of a college student who was dying because of a car accident who said to her mother mother. You have taught me how to hold my cigarette. You have taught me how to be popular. You have taught me how to dress.

You have taught me how to use contraceptives, but you have not taught me how to die tell me how do I die and so you have parents all throughout the country to whom God has given this awesome authority, but they are not doing what God appointed them to do. But the Bible says the children. Honor your father and your mother.

The question that I want to answer today is how is this done. How can those of us who are children who still have parents that are alive. How can we fulfill this commandment which God has staked out with clarity what I want you to do is to begin by turning to Ephesians chapter 6 Ephesians chapter 6 because one way that we can honor our father and our mother is by obedience. Obedience I'm speaking here of obeying them by our actions by our actions. That's one way that we can fulfill the commandment.

This is what the text says Ephesians chapter 6 verse one children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise. And here is the promise that it may be well with you and that you may live long upon the earth. Children obey your parents. You fulfill the commandment to buy your action now young people and others that are here today. When do we obey our parents will first of all we obey, even when it hurts, even when it hurts, even when the will of our parents seems to be contrary to our own desires. Our own inclinations. The text says, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Wasn't it Mark Twain who said that his parents learned an awful lot after he became 20 years old when he meant was that even though before he was 20, he thought that his parents were out to lunch. He discovered that the older he got, the more wisdom he discovered his parents had is not true of all of us.

All of our parents seem to become incredibly educated. Sometime after we became 25 or 30. Now let me say this, but as someone who has done some marriage counseling in my life. When a couple comes to me and they say we got problems and we are really thinking of splitting or whatever the problem may be. I very frequently ask them a question, because I'm interested in the text says that if it isn't well with you.

It may well be because of some disobedience in your life and so I will say to them now when you got married, did you get married with your parents approval and so often not all the time but so often the answer is yes, you're right.

We didn't have our parents approval.

My mother told me not to marry that guy.

There was something about him that she didn't like and I thought that she was just prejudiced or that she was narrowminded, but mother was right. Father was right. Why because the text says that it it may be well with you. Your parents may have much more wisdom that you will then you are willing to give them credit for. And so the Bible says children obey your parents you get married without their approval, you'll spend a good part of your life trying to prove them wrong in your gonna try too hard. All kinds of problems will develop because the Bible says this is right that it may be well with you and that you may live long upon the earth. You obey them even when it hurts, you also obey them when they're wrong. By the way, now there's nothing in the said text that says that in a footnote. Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right parens except when they happen to be wrong. My Bible doesn't say that and neither does yours parents sometimes are wrong. No question about it. Parents are sometimes inconsistent, but the Bible says that if you wanted to be well upon the earth. You obey them, even if what they might be asking of you may be a little bit harsh and you may not think that they are reasonable. They may even be wrong.

The Bible says obey them that it may be well with you, Jesus, the Bible says in Luke chapter 2 verse 51 he came to his parents. This was of course when he was there in Nazareth and then made the trip back.

You'll notice it says and he was subject to them. He put himself as the son of God under his parents authority, even though he was the son of God, and certainly eventually had more insight I should say than they did. All I can imagine somebody meeting me at the door and that's what I have to say this next part and will say is there ever a time when a child should not is obey his parents and the answer I think is yes if your parents ask you to break some commandment of God that they ask you to steal or to commit adultery if they tell you not to believe on Jesus Christ, then I think you should disobey them. I have a friend who's a very successful pastor and I admire him because God has greatly blessed and then he told me one time.

He said that if I were to have obeyed my parents I would never have accepted Christ as Savior. They were opposed to me believing in Jesus, but he says today on the Christian and he says that then God called me into the ministry and they didn't like that either, but the call of God than the will of God in his particular circumstance enabled him to see that he did not have to obey his parents.

In that respect, but he honors his parents.

No question about it that he he gives them honor.

He is willing to do all that he possibly can to mend the fences and isn't it interesting that years after his decision to go into the ministry and accept Christ as Savior. His parents now have mellowed a great deal and they have accepted that another open to the gospel in a way that they weren't many years ago, but he gives them honor. But he realizes that there is a conflict tween the higher will of God than the will of his parents, but those are very rare circumstances. They do exist. They do happen. But the Bible simply says children obey your parents why did it may be well with you and some of you here today can testify that it isn't well with you and the reason may be because of rebellion against your parents. Second, we can obey not only in our actions we can obey in our attitude in our attitude. You know all of us know the story of the little boy who was asked by his parents to sit down and then he said later, I'm sitting down but in my heart.

I'm standing up there is such a thing as obedience. Just because mom and dad are bigger than I am.

The boy says like a father who really whipped his child and Ray said remember I am doing this in love and the little voices.

I wish I were big enough to return the favor. And so there are children who say I am obeying my parents, but just wait till I become old enough to do my own thing. How do you have the right attitude.

First of all, an attitude of thanksgiving attitude of thanksgiving, gratitude your parents do a whole lot more for you than you can possibly remember or appreciate until you have your own and then you find out how much they do for you somewhere I read that it takes 1/4 of $1 million to raise a child today from .02 past college. I don't know if that's right or not but I do know this, that it takes a tremendous amount of work and effort to rear children and appreciation is so important that those of us who are older and now know that we have the responsibility of thanking our parents and they giving gratitude to them as I did last night when I called my mother in preparation for Mother's Day. So what we should be responsible for doing is to have hearts that are filled with gratitude. But you know that another thing young people, and I say this particularly to those of you who are still in your homes and in that sense directly under your parents authority not only an attitude of gratitude but honesty. Honesty.

If there's anything that your parents appreciate it is the knowledge that when you speak you speak truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so many times what happens is young people develop lives that there parents don't even know about. So they say to mom and dad, I'm going to John's place tonight, and they may even speak the truth, but John's place is just stopping off point to go to somewhere else and there are young people who live such schizophrenic double lives where they are, are developing a whole secret network of relationships and sins independently of their parents knowledge and what a tragedy that is I was thinking about that this past week I was reminded of this a true story that is happened more than once back on the farm. You know what to farmers used to do as they would take a hand that was setting on eggs and they would put duck eggs under her and she didn't know the difference. She had not done any research into the nature of eggs I guess and she thought that they look like chicken eggs. So she hatched little ducks, ducklings and and mother hen would do. It would go around and she would find them food and she thought that she was taking care of her own kids mind and then one day, as they would come to what is called the dugout a little pond of water and I saw this with my own two eyes. It was it was something to behold. Suddenly those little duck. Let's would ducklings I guess. I hope they don't criticize the way I'm talking about them, they would suddenly pop into the water and swim and mother hen would be absolutely incredulous. She'd be having an identity crisis there on the shore she be running around in and she be clucking and making all sorts of sounds and and trying to figure out. These are the kids I bore look at what they're doing and I've often thought of that story because there are many parents that are like that. They are rearing these children and they think that there training some chickens and suddenly they find out they been rearing ducks. Suddenly they find out that this child whom they thought that they knew and understood is very different from the truth of what they believe. There's a whole world out there that the child is getting involved in and as soon as that child is old enough to say goodbye to mom and dad in the soon as he comes to the point where dad is no longer physically stronger than he. He says goodbye and he does his own thing and the parents can understand it.

I plead with you parents today and young people would you get together in your home so that you understand one another so that you can deal with issues that arise with honesty and integrity and transparency so that you know who you have in your home and both of you are responsible for that know the Bible says in the Old Testament God says who so cursed the father or mother, let him be put to death. It also says he that strike if mother or father, let him be put to death God is saying. Honor your father and your mother that it may be well with you. You say, but my parents are so strict they are so harsh they belong to the previous century. Listen young people God may know that you needed parents just like that to keep you out of evil. You know, he just might know what's best for you. And since we don't have any opportunity to choose our parents, God has placed us under their authority and we ought to recognize that they are accountable to God even if they mislead us, certainly, but that we are subject to them why that it may be well with us. Says the text of Scripture now honor them with our actions with our attitude but also with the attention that we should give them with the attention that we should get them in here I speak, particularly of those of us who are older children who have a responsibility for aged parents. In fact, I think that when God gave the 10 Commandments he very probably had in mind the responsibility of young people taking care of their older parents.

As they approached old age. The Bible says in Leviticus chapter 19 verse 32 it says honor the aged and revere God. Well, there is a verse that means a lot more to me the older that I get. But would we must remember is that the Commandments have been given by God for our good and they do represent his holiness. I've written a book entitled why holiness matters. The 10 Commandments Jesus and you and if you wonder why Jesus fits into this picture. Well, I need to tell you that Jesus actually gave us 1/11 commandment. I believe that this book is going to be a great blessing to you. I wrote it in order to be a help to recover the holiness that we have lost in our lives and in our churches for a gift of any amount. This book can be yours. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask for why holiness matters does holiness matter.

Well, all that you need to do is go back into the Old Testament and find out that people were stoned to death when they disobeyed God on a number of different matters. He deals differently with us today, but that does not mean that his standards have changed. Let me give you that information again for a gift of any amount why holiness matters RTW offer.com or if you prefer, call us at 1-888-218-9337 and thanks in advance for your support of this ministry, we are dependent upon your prayers and your investments.

Thanks in advance.

It's time know another chance for you to ask investor loops are a question about the Bible or the Christian life, forgiveness and reconciliation are two issues that are often misunderstood. Today we have a question from Karen listener, clearly upset by a sense of injustice. She writes I've listened to your messages about harboring pain resentments and past hurts I've experienced much hurt. But why those who have done the hurting not have to say they are sorry to your face.

Everyone always makes it sound like the person grieved is the one that must quote forgive and understand and act like everything is just normal again without any active responsibility or accountability on the transgressors part pastor looks or I'm struggling in my heart.

Karen, my heart goes out to you because I understand your letter very very well. Of course, the transgressors should be the one to ask forgiveness and to do it to one's face, but most perpetrators don't do that. I read somewhere that 80%, for example of child abusers deny it when they are confronted with it. So that's the problem.

So that leaves you the victim and what are you going to do.

The reason some of us stressed the need to forgive is for your benefit. Now there is a kind of forgiveness that I believe that does not bring about reconciliation. I mean there are people who perhaps have hurt you. Some of them may have already died and you can't be reconciled with them as a matter fact you can't be reconciled with some people who are alive because reconciliation involves three things, forgiveness, respect, and also trust so if you don't have those elements you can't really be fully reconciled to someone and that we just need to accept that but I stress one sided forgiveness where you lay down all of your bitterness. Even though you've been wronged, and even though the person responsible refuses to own up to it or to ask for his side of forgiveness. Now let me give you a verse of Scripture Karen that I think will help you it says in first Peter chapter 2 verse 22. Regarding Jesus, that he committed himself to God when he was reviled. He reviled not again but kept committing himself to him who judges righteously. The Bible says he did no sin, neither was any evil found in his mouth and then it goes on to say what I just quoted Karen the injustice done against Jesus has not yet been answered. Justice has not yet been brought to him that still is going to happen at the time of the resurrection and the final judgment but notice Jesus instead of lashing out. He kept committing himself to God believing that God was just and that eventually justice would be brought to his situation.

Now let's speak about you Karen, you need to get rid of that bitterness and to trust God in such a way that you believe that he is the righteous judge, and that someday he'll set the matter straight. You give your need to the Supreme Court of the universe so that you can walk away without being bitter because the bitterness will hurt you. It will not hurt the person who wronged you, but it'll hurt you. I pray today that you will be free. Thanks Karen for sharing your story. Thank you Dr. Luther for those wise words, if you'd like to have your question answered.

You sure can just go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask pastor notes are a call us with your question at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 the racetrack of life is smoother when things are right with mom and dad.

Next time I'm running to win more teaching on God's command designed to ensure stable homes and well-adjusted families will underscore the reality that in the Bible. Failure to honor your father and mother brought serious consequences. Also, will focus on why learning to submit to parents when we were young, makes it easier to submit to God when we grow up wanting to win is all about helping you understand God's roadmap for your race of life. This is Dave Callister running to win is sponsored by the teacher